During the holiday season, nothing adds a touch of festive elegance to a home quite like the colorful Amaryllis (or *Hippeastrum*). But let’s be real—buying these stunning bulbs every year can get pretty pricey! If one plant just isn’t enough for your holiday decor, why not try growing your own? It’s a great way to expand your collection without breaking the bank. Here’s the scoop on how to grow Amaryllis from seeds or “bulblets.”
Harvesting Seeds: The Easy Way
To get your plant to produce seeds, you’ll need to play bee for a minute and help with pollination. Just take a small, soft paintbrush, gently swirl it inside an open flower to pick up pollen, and transfer it to the stigma (the center part of the flower).
If you were successful, you’ll see seed pods develop over the next eight weeks. Once they’re ripe, you can easily remove the pods and pop them open. Spread the seeds out on a paper towel and let them air dry for about three days.
Don’t Wait to Sow!
Timing is everything here. You’ll want to plant your seeds about three days after harvesting—definitely don’t wait longer than five days, or they might lose their spark.
Here’s your step-by-step game plan:
- Grab a small seed tray or pot and fill it with a good seed-starting mix.
- Place the seeds on top of the soil. These guys need light to germinate, so just press them in very lightly.
- Sprinkle a super thin layer of fine sawdust over the top.
- Give them a gentle misting with some lukewarm water.
Place your tray in a warm spot with partial shade (a cozy windowsill is perfect). You should see sprouts popping up within three weeks. Just a heads-up: it usually takes about three years of growth before you’ll see that first spectacular bloom. Patience is a virtue!
Growing Amaryllis from “Bulblets”
If your Amaryllis has produced small “daughter” bulbs (also called offsets or bulblets), you’re in luck! You can grow a brand-new flowering plant much faster this way—often within just a single season.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Carefully snip the bulblets away from the main mother bulb. You’ll have the best luck with ones that are at least an inch (3 cm) in diameter.
- Fill a pot with a potting mix (a blend of cactus soil and regular potting soil works great) over a layer of expanded clay pebbles for drainage.
- Press each bulblet into the soil until it’s about halfway submerged, then water it from the bottom by filling the saucer.
Keep your new plant on a warm, partially shaded windowsill, and you could be enjoying a gorgeous floral display in as little as 12 months!
